2 days ago
Russell aims to take Fife Flyers to new heights
Fife Flyers have named their new coach. He's Canadian Jamie Russell and the instructions from bosses are simple: 'Build a winning team.'
The 58-year-old, who has never coached in Britain, has also been told to energise the locker room and take the Kirkcaldy club to new heights.
Flyers say the Kamloops-born playcaller has a wealth of coaching experience spread across North American college leagues, the rough-tough East Coast Hockey League and in the Slovak Extraliga.
His most recent appointment was in the Alps Hockey League with Rittner Buam who faced off against the Cardiff Devils in the third round group stage of the 2024/25 IIHF Continental Cup.
Rittner Buam also won the Italian Supercup Championship last season and Russell said: 'The new ownership group has been outstanding in developing a vision to return the Flyers to a level of pride and excellence.
'Max Birbraer is a legend in the Elite League (EIHL), and his leadership will guide us to new heights.'
Russell added: 'We are building a roster that will reflect the values you will find in the community of Kirkcaldy. We will attack games with an unyielding work ethic and passion.
'You will see players that have pride in pulling on the Flyers sweater and we intend to make the Fife Ice Arena one of the most challenging places to play in the league.'
The home team will, he declared, be known for its speed, grit and relentless style of hockey.
Max Birbraer (correct), the club's general manager (GM), revealed that from the first conversation with Russell he felt they were on the same page, not only about how hockey should be played, but the type of team we would like to build in Fife.
The Kazakhastan-born Israel international forward added: 'We both felt that this is a tremendous opportunity of having a blank canvas where we can put our own stamp on. 'The fact that Jamie has successfully undergone a full re-build process several times in his extensive career holds huge value as that's exactly what is happening here in the Kingdom of Fife.
'As an associate GM, coach Russell has the creative power of putting together a team which reflects the identity of what truly is a hockey town, hard work, passion, fearlessness, they are just some of the building blocks of our new identity.
'We are planning to balance this with skill and entertainment which we think is a winning formula in terms of giving our diehard supporters the match night experience they deserve.
'During the due diligence process, one common theme kept coming through, Jamie is a true leader.'
Birbraer had a message for the club's success-hungry fans: 'Get behind this team and fly together.'
FLASHBACK: Action v Coventry last season courtesy of Fife Flyers
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